Berkshires Beat: Honoring Downing On His Way Out
More praise: State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing (D-Pittsfield) received awards from advocates for the Massachusetts tourism industry and advocates for clean energy in two ceremonies at the State House earlier this month.
Downing, a former chair and current vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, was 0 Comments

Biz Briefs: Lee Outlets Give Veterans Reserved Parking
Park place: In honor of National Military Appreciation Month in May, Lee Premium Outlets unveiled two reserved Veteran/Military parking spaces with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 20.
U.S. Army Recruitment Officers Staff Sgt. Aaron Pierce and Sgt. First Class Kenneth Rosado were in attendance along with representatives from various local 0 Comments

Jamula Homers in Adams Community Bank's Win
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. -- Landen Jamula homered to center field in the bottom of the fifth to cap an 11-1 win for Adams Community Bank over the Lenox Police in Cal Ripken Baseball play over the weekend.
Jamula finished with a double, a home run, a walk and three RBIs for ACB, which also got four innings of one-hit ball from Jackson 0 Comments

Berkshire Scenic Begins Summer Season Memorial Weekend
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — With several blasts of the train whistle, the Hoosac Valley Service's Budd Car 6126 moved along the backways of the city at a dignified 10 mph.
The ride from North Adams to Adams on Friday night was a precursor of the scenic rail line's first full summer season in North County — and a sneak peak for 3 Comments

Letter: Williamstown Planning Board & Open Meeting Law
To the Editor:
Let's get all the facts about my position on this topic, and not just what an editor would like to list to create a story.
I was not made aware that my complaint was a topic at the Planning Board meeting or I would have attended. Frankly, once filed, the Open Meeting Law Complaint has to run its course.
The 3 Comments

United Way Ends 'Day of Caring' With Dance Party
A total of 50 book houses have been installed throughout Berkshire County.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds of people shook it up on the dance floor at Hancock Shaker Village on Friday night.
The dance party Friday night capped of the Berkshire United Way's Day of Caring during which dozens go businesses 0 Comments

Letter: Get BART Smart Thanks
To the Editor:
On Saturday, April 9, Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School (BArT) hosted our ninth annual "Get BArT Smart" fundraiser – and raised $20,291 (net) for the school's college preparatory programs! Over 150 people attended – and re-lived their high school years through our team trivia 0 Comments

Bay State Games Girls Basketball Tryouts Set
WESTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Tryouts for the Bay State Games Western Massachusetts girls basketball team will begin on Thursday, May 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hampshire Regional High School.
The tryouts will be held over four dates, which include one at North Adams’ McCann Tech on Wednesday, June 22, from 6 to 8 0 Comments

'The Meddler': Mommy Nosiest
If you believe that contemporary movies are too full of gratuitous violence, non-stop action and inundating special effects, then you might call director-writer Lorene Scafaria's "The Meddler" the exception that proves the rule.
Starring Susan Sarandon as Marnie Minervini, the loving helicopter mom who just can't keep out 0 Comments

Hinds Tours Local Businesses, Stumps On Economic Development
Fire Cider owner Dana St. Pierre said his company is in the market for a commercial kitchen in Pittsfield but the available real estate is making it difficult.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Seth Nash initially scoffed at the idea of paying a consultant to come in and look at his business operations to find more 1 Comment